SECIA Board Meeting 01/06/09

Present:

Wendy M., Connie S., Stewart S., Lee H., Bill D., James D., Jake J. Joan M., Jeane M., Tedd J.

Excused: Jeff H., Jeremiah P.

*Wendy opened the meeting – 6:35pm

*December Minutes

2nd Page – Stephanie attended conference

Stipend was for the conference registration

Connie – approve min. as corrected – Lee 2nd

*Liaison/updates from MSA & GAPSA – Jasmine & Megan C. on break

Kendra discussed the student Liaison program in the absence of Jasmine

Stipend $1000 for liaison

Snow shovel outreach – try and identify elderly on the blocks who may need assistance in shoveling

Include SE Seniors to recruit volunteers to help with the shovel outreach

To contact Kendra about Liaison opportunities: neighbor@umn.edu TL: 612-625-8939

*Chris Wilson – Bunge Development Update

Chris presented pictures of the project and how each piece of the development is progressing

Working on the 3rd building at this time

Building B is complete – 35 units (rental bldg) fully leased as of 10/08 – all of B is subsidized rental

Building A: 1/3 complete – will be done 30th of April 09 (50 units)

                Jan 15th 5pm – 8pm informal walk-through of B bldg

(5 units)  Bldg C is a Habitat for Humanity project – units are for sale (all occupied)

Phase D redevelopment of grain elevator, town homes for sale, and parking garage is next part of project to be completed – delayed to general for-sale market/economy

Wendy: Try marketing internally to Como/SE

Look at doing a write up in “The Comotion” on how to apply for one of the rental units – poss. putting the rental app. on SECIA website

Joan – how do we reach out to U of M employee renters who could benefit from renting a unit at the development?

On-site management/security - where does the neighborhood go if there are issues?  There will be a manager on site during business hours.  One can also contact Chris.  Also, there will be a live-in maintenance person on-site

Safety fence will be placed between the units and the tracks. Also looking into a shrub wall between the tracks and the residences

*SEMCOL – Katie Fournier

Same slate of reps as last year (Katie, Holly Day, Jen Franko & Mark Tondra) – Connie moved & Joan 2nd approving the current slate of reps to continue

*Alliance doc (ZPRR) neighborhood meeting sponsored by SECIA to discuss Alliance City doc – poss. Date would be 1st or 2nd week of Feb.  Also, including a brief explanation of the doc and a link to the doc on the SECIA website or through “The Comotion”

*Councilmember Updates – Councilmember Cam Gordon

Homebuyer Incentive Program – ($10,000 in forgivable loan) will be rolled out to help those who want to buy a home to live in within the Alliance District (as a homesteader)

Crime reduction – underreporting in SE Como as an issue

Updating police reporting plans for the neighborhood – how to get the data on livability crime offences

Ask Nick to Feb. meeting to extend deadline on prelim questionnaire to then discuss the details of that meeting at our next neighborhood safety committee

Steph is our rep to the City’s Homegrown Initiative (see Councilmember Gordon’s report to SE Como dated 01/06/09 Item #11)

*Committee Updates – Wendy

- Lynn asked for direction on the MOU to join or continue membership in the DCC

Connie moved for approval on the MOU – Lee 2nd the motion – a SECIA letter of support to the MOU will be sent with Lynn to the next DCC Governing Council meeting on 01/14/09

Wendy – Feb. 21st meeting where a rep from SECIA would be sent to the City new neighborhood commission to discuss the process on how to select the members of the new neighborhood policy board

Lee was mentioned as a possible SECIA rep’s name to be sent

-          5 interns this semester: Michelle and Samantha (working on the Good Neighbor Fund grant)

-          Other 3 interns will work on the Green Initiative project

Staff Dev. Stipend – est. some rules

New Business – Wendy

Board to send a letter to SAG and U of M w/cc to MPLS that university would put a surcharge on the event tickets for events at the new stadium that would go into a general fund to assist the U neighborhoods with the issues that will be caused on game days at the new stadium

Connie made a motion to create this letter and Lee 2nd

Encourage the Homeowner Incentive Programs with monies available that would assist the “Live Where You Work” initiative

Adjourned 8:50pm